It shouldn’t be news to you that sleep directly affects your physical performance. If you aren’t getting the proper amount of sleep, you won’t be able to perform as well as if you did. If you are up tossing and turning all night, you won’t be as effective the next day.

Countless studies have been conducted that show the link between sleep and physical performance. The Better Sleep Council recently conducted a nationwide survey. Here are some direct statistics from the Better Sleep Council (BSC):

-“Respondents getting nine hours of sleep or more are more likely to engage in higher-intensity workouts (biking, running, weight lifting, etc).”
-“Seven in 10 (or 70 percent) report that they are not getting the recommended amount of sleep needed each night (7.5 hours or more) to perform at their best each day.”

Dr. Bert Jacobson, a professor and the head of the School of Educational Studies at Oklahoma State University said, “Sleep deprivation impacts us physically, which can negatively affect our coordination, agility, mood and energy. Research shows that sleeping better and longer leads to improvements in athletic performance, including faster sprint time, better endurance, lower heart rate and even improved mood and higher levels of energy during a workout.”

The key to getting enough sleep is having the right mattress. Survey respondents agreed that they are able to sleep better and longer on a new mattress, rather than an old one. Eighty-one percent of Americans admit that they wake up with neck, back or shoulder pain.

The thing to keep in mind is that you don’t have to live like this. It is extremely smart to invest in a good quality mattress. You should be sleeping on a mattress that helps you sleep instead of one that causes you to toss and turn all night long. The BSC recommends that you evaluate and replace your mattress every 5-7 years to enjoy optimal comfort and support.

Sleep does directly affect your physical performance. If your physical performance is severely lacking, you might want to take a look at the amount and quality of sleep that you get.